Improvement in devices for receiving and delivering mail-bags



J. SOUTHWIGK. Device for Receiving and Delivering Mail-Bags No. 213,463 Patented Mar. 18,1879.

JV'V'ENTOR By M $.57? 06-0- Attorneys N. PETER? PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,463, dated March 18, 1879; application filed June 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB SoU'rHwIoK, of Brant Center, in the county of Erie, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Receiving and Delivering Mail-Bags from Cars; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a device for delivering and receiving mail-bags on cars, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the device on the car. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device at the mail-station. Fig. 3 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Arepresents a portion of a postal car, which is provided on the inside at top and bottom with longitudinally-grooved guide-rails B B, running across the car, and in these guiderails is placed a metal frame, C. This frame may, near each end, he provided with a strengthening-bar, D, if deemed necessary. The end bars of the frame C are curved outward, as shown at E, and in this curve is made a hole, f, for the insertion of a pin, to pivot an arm, G, thereto. The inner end of this arm is forked, and straddles the part E of the frame, to which it is then pivoted, and in useis held horizontal by means of cord or chain 3 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the bar G are fastened a series of arms, H, extending downward at right angles to the bar, and at any desired distances apart. The upper ends of the arms H are formed with screw-tenons, which are passed upward through holes in the bar, and fastened by nuts I) on their upper ends. The lower ends of the arms form prongs h h, which extend in opposite directions, as shown, and their ends curved slightly upward.

to to represent two springs, which are fastened to the upper ends of two of the arms H, and extend downward and outward to one side, so as to be in contact with the prongs h.

At the mailstation there is to be an oval support, K, in the center of which is a series of vertical arms, L L, with prongs Z l at their upper ends, projecting in opposite directions, as seen in Fig. 2.

The mail-bag to be delivered is placed on back prongs or fingers h, under the springs a, and the entire frame, with the arm and its fingers, moved out to a given point, so that the fingers h will pass between the prongs or fingers I on the support or platform K, upon which the mail-bag to be received by the car is laid. As the car passes by, thefront fingers h take up the mail-bag from the fingers I, while the bag held upon the back fingers h by the springs to is removed by the arms L and left on the platform. The frame C is then drawn into the car, and the bar G can be turned up, if desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The pivoted bar G, provided with the arms H, having the prongs or fingers h and the springs a, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the sliding frame 0, bar G, arms H, prongs h, and springs a, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination of the platform K, arms L, and prongs or fingers l, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of April, 1878.

JACOB SOUTHWICK.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. CHRIsTY, ELLIs H. CoLorN. 

